Candies come in numerous colors and varieties and have a long history. The word candy began to be used in the late 13th Century, coming into English from the French "çucre candi." Candy is made by dissolving sugar in water or milk to form a  syrup, which is then boiled until it reaches the desired concentration or starts to caramelize. The resulting type of candy depends on the ingredients and how long the mixture is boiled. As the syrup is heated and boils, the water evaporates, the sugar concentration increases and the boiling point temperature rises. A given temperature corresponds to a particular sugar concentration. In general, higher temperatures and greater sugar concentrations result in hard, brittle candies, and lower temperatures result in softer candies. The candy business underwent drastic changes in the 1830s when technological advances and the greatly increased supply of sugar reduced its cost and opened up the market. Confectioners no longer supplied candy only to the wealthy, but to children, as well. The village candy store became a favorite of children of the American working class. Penny candies epitomized this transformation of candy, and candy became the first product on which children spent their own money. For this reason, candy store owners often relied almost entirely on the business of children to stay in business.  Today the global sales of candy are about $60 billion.

Children will enjoy making music by tapping the xylophone keys one by one. Even better, when children want to move on to another toy, simply unfold the instrument and it becomes a pull-along train. Children can tug on the string to watch the colorful 17"-long train chug-chug behind them! An attached mallet will help children reveal six different tones. For 12 months and up.

TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.

Children will be delighted by this adorable 9.5" toy featuring six removable shape-sorting and color-matching gears! Once all of the gears have been correctly placed, they will move ‘round and ‘round with a simple turn of the knob, encouraging children's hands-on exploration and discovery. And as a lively bonus, Busy Buddy’s eyes blink and ears wiggle when the gears move. For ages 9 months and up.

Keekee's big act is juggling balls while balancing on a giant banana. Talented as he may be, he needs help to impress his friends in the zoo. Find out just how many balls Keekee can balance! It all depends on each player picking the right ball and putting it in the right place. The look on kids' faces as they watch this little monkey sway to and fro is priceless. With the excitement of the crash, it never feels like losing when playing Keekee the Rocking Monkey. This all wooden balancing game is sustainably made.

Looking for the best game for a large group? Hop aboard the 20 Express! Each player has a train of 20 cars to fill with numbers. The goal is to create the longest ascending series possible. Twenty numbered tiles are randomly drawn. With every draw, the number must board a car and stay there. Break a series and you miss out on points. Like in Bingo, you need luck on your side, but strategic thinking and sharp guesswork pays off. With clear-cut game play and lots of suspense, it’s full steam ahead for an unlimited number of players!

Get ready to party like a caveman with a memory game of prehistoric proportions! Gather the clan to perform the sacred chant known as Ooga Booga. Each card has either an ancient word or wild gesture. Players take turns laying down a card to add on to the chant. You have to listen closely and follow the clues to recite the chain without a mistake. As the voices of the tribe rise into a sidesplitting song, the sharpest memory will determine the new chief. Ooga Booga is a memory game you’ll never forget!

There is always a match until...Nada! Scoop up the dice and let ‘em roll. Quick—scan the array for matching symbols between the orange and white dice. The first to call a match collects all the dice showing that symbol. No matches? No problem! It’s another chance to win. Shout “Nada!” to snatch up all the dice. But speak too soon and you’ll pay the price. This dice game has 3 play variations. Think sharp and act fast to match, snatch, and win!

Watch the sparks fly in this lightning-fast dice dash! Players race to complete eight challenges and try to rack up the most points. With three play variations, Flash is the go-to dice game for electrifying fun. Straightforward and quick, you can go at it again and again. Every one of all ages gets bit by the competition bug and has a fair shot to victory.

Get the ultimate archery experience with the foam Z-Curve Bow. Hook in the Zartz Arrow or BlazeX Long-Range Arrow, position the shot, and watch it safely glide through the air for an incredible 125 feet. Includes one Z-Curve Bow, two BlazeX Long-Range Arrows and 1 Suction-Cup Zartz Arrow.
— "The Z-Curve Bow is the best selling outdoor toy that we have right now," Kim Emigh, manger of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly in a March 2013 survey.

Ages 3 months to 24 months.The Octo-Brush from Baby Banana is a 100% silicone toothbrush and teether in one. The unique design of this product has nubs, bumps and suction cups on its unique tentacles, making teething and brushing 8 times more exciting for little ones. Specially engineered token bristles on the underside of the tentacles help children get used to manipulating a cleaning device in their mouths, while still having fun and being able to hold the Octo-Brush all on their own!

Aurora will initially release 18 My Little Pony styles with suggested retail prices ranging from $15-$20. Twelve small ponies each with a personalized carrying bag (Aurora’s popular Fancy Pals™ style; size: 6”) and six soft plush ponies (just over 10 inches in size) highlight the line. My Little Pony plush will be available for purchase in both the United States & Canada in Aurora’s retail channel of more than 25,000 specialty stores and gift shops as well as online at http://shop.auroragift.com. For more information, visit http://auroragift.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722.
— Gary Green, owner of Toy Box of Asheville Inc in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Aurora's My Little Pony was their best-selling line of licensed toys.

Create up to 5 different layouts with this 20-piece play set. Includes Thomas, 17 pieces of track, a bridge and a tunnel.
— Grafton Stein, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Thomas the Tank Engine toys are their best-selling licensed products.
— In a February 2014 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Thomas & Friends sets from Fisher-Price were among their best-selling wooden toys.
— In a February 2015 survey, Sue Hottel, co-owner of No Kidding (aka Sand Castle Toys Inc) in Mattapoisett, Mass., told TDmonthly that Thomas & Friends trains are her some of her store's best-selling wooden toys.

You’ve reached the intersection where Park Place meets the Yellow Brick Road… so grab your friends and family, click your heels three times and return to the magical Land of Oz. You’ll know you’re not in Kansas anymore with the world-famous MONOPOLY game. Follow the Yellow Brick Road as you buy, sell and trade your favorite locations in the movie. The center of the game features a pop-up of the most notable locations in the movie.

Adora’s exclusive Fab Fairies™ spread love & joy! They are absolutely adorable, a perfect blend of sweetness and love for infants on up. Fab Fairies™ are made of ultra soft and cuddly microfiber plush with adorable fairy faces and are available in three cheerful colors accented with a sweet flower appliqué.

Portal Masters, let out your battle cry! MONOPOLY®: Skylanders™ is here and the Skylanders need your help to fight the forces of darkness. Buy, sell, and trade your way to reign over all of Skylands and protect the elements from evil. Then battle your opponents to be the true ruler of it all! Available to retailers: Summer 2013. SRP $39.95 ©2013 USAOPOLY. ©1935, 2013 HASBRO. ©2013 Activision Publishing, Inc. SKYLANDERS is a trademark and ACTIVISION is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc.

Sculpted fabric enhances the ethereal look of the SKY DRAGON puppet. With rich detailing, this spectacular dragon features a movable mouth, forelegs and velvet wings to take flight. This champion of mythical creatures is destined to guide your journey into realms of fantasy.

Soft Blocks are soft, interlocking blocks that are safe for kids to use. It doesn't hurt to step on them, and kids won't pinch their fingers or have trouble pulling the blocks apart.

From the makers of Bag-o-Loot comes a new storybook about Snitch the Fracoon, who has to go on a scavenger hunt and ends up learning a lesson about generosity. Comes with a plush accessory.

BrainstormProducts shows their new Glass World products, including a new Hello Kitty line that will join their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ugly Doll, and Angry Birds collections. Made 100% of glass - no paints or dyes.

These "tent houses" feature fun designs including the "My Garage Play House" and a cute floral cottage. Made of organic cotton and wooden poles.

These sturdy tents feature reinforced tent corners, easy to use zippers, and no sharp corners. The tents feature colorful printed "The Jungle Book" designs from Disney's new show.
— "We do sell a lot of Pacific Play Tents - the tents with a cute theme," Kim Emigh, manager of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly in a June 2013 survey.

This organic cotton canvas teepee is supported by sustainable bamboo poles. Eco-Friendly and durable; folds into a carry bag.

Create your own version of happily ever after with this fairly tale block set. (Includes a prince too!)

Explore your imaginative side with this 35-piece castle-themed block set. Includes wooden knights , horses and a variety of colored and non – colored blocks. Made of PlanWood, a sustainable material created from recycled sawdust.

Build a fantastic marble run with this brilliantly colored 30 – piece set. Watch the marbles spiral and hop down the various pieces of track. The Marble Run Deluxe is made of PlanWood, a sustainable material made from recycled sawdust.
— In a February 2014 survey, Julie Steinbach, owner of Rainbow Toys in Falmouth, Maine, told TDmonthly that Marble Runs were one of their best-selling wooden toys.